Wilmington has spent the last few years debating how to keep green space in a city that keeps growing. This week that conversation got a lot more specific. On Oct. 28, 2026, Port City Daily reported that the City of Wilmington’s planning department has been working on a brand-new zoning district just for open space, and that the idea is now on hold while staff work through the details.
It sounds like inside-baseball for planners, but zoning decides what can and can’t be built next to your house. Here’s what’s on the table, how it connects to the Flossie Bryan tract on Independence Boulevard, and what Wilmington homeowners and buyers should keep an eye on.
What the City Is Considering
According to the Port City Daily report, Wilmington Planning Director Linda Painter told the city’s parks and recreation advisory board in September that her team is weighing one or more zoning districts set aside for parks, conservation land, and recreation. Today, those uses are allowed inside other districts, including all residential districts and several commercial ones. A dedicated district would let the city write rules tailored to open space and would signal to the public which land it intends to keep green for the long haul.
Painter had hoped to bring a draft to the Wilmington Planning Commission in November. That won’t happen now. A city spokesperson told Port City Daily the proposal is on hold because staff still have many details to work out, and suggested checking back in a few weeks.
Why It Matters to Neighbors
Painter explained that the city owns a number of properties that are zoned residential, some with single-family homes on them, that were picked up for stormwater, floodplain protection, or other city needs. Because they’re zoned residential, the city regularly gets offers from people who want to build on them. An open space district would make it clear which city-owned parcels are being held long term for conservation, floodplain, stormwater, or recreation, and which aren’t.
For homeowners, that kind of clarity is valuable. If the wooded lot behind your house is city-owned stormwater land, knowing it’s zoned as permanent open space is a lot more reassuring than knowing it’s technically zoned for houses.
The Flossie Bryan Tract Connection
The idea came to a head because of the Flossie Bryan tract, about 60 acres at 3990 Independence Blvd. that New Hanover County bought from the Bryan family in 2025 to preserve as green space. The nonprofit North Carolina Coastal Land Trust has a contract to buy the land and maintain it as a public nature preserve, with until December 2027 to close, and a spokesperson told Port City Daily the trust is raising money to complete the purchase.
Here’s the wrinkle. Wilmington’s land code allows “public parks” in residential districts, but only when the land is owned by a government. A nonprofit-owned preserve doesn’t fit neatly. Part of the tract also needs to be rezoned from industrial, and without an open space district, the closest fit would be a residential district, which tends to make neighbors assume houses are coming.
The city told Port City Daily that staff plan to bring an amendment to the planning board next month that would treat nonprofit-owned parks the same as public parks, as long as they’re open to the public. That’s a narrower fix that could move ahead even while the bigger open space district waits.
What This Means for Homeowners
- Your property won’t be rezoned without your say. Painter said the city wouldn’t rezone private property into the new district unless the owner requested it, in part because North Carolina law restricts “downzoning” a property owner’s land without their consent. Private owners could ask to rezone their own land this way if they wanted to.
- Nearby green space can be a long-term plus. Homes near parks, trails, and protected woods tend to appeal to buyers who value quiet and outdoor access. Clear rules about what stays green reduce the uncertainty that can come with an undeveloped lot next door.
- Stormwater and floodplain land matters. Some of the city-owned land in question exists to manage water. Keeping it undeveloped is part of how neighborhoods handle heavy rain, which is worth understanding if you live near a creek or low-lying area.
What This Means for Buyers
If you’re shopping for a home in Wilmington, especially in Midtown neighborhoods near Independence Boulevard, ask about the land around the property, not just the property itself. A few practical steps:
- Look up the zoning and ownership of nearby vacant parcels through the city and county GIS maps.
- Ask whether wooded or open land nearby is publicly owned, privately owned, or under contract to a conservation group.
- Check flood zone status and stormwater features, since land held for water management often stays open for a reason.
- Follow upcoming planning board agendas if a specific parcel matters to you. The nonprofit park amendment is expected to go to the planning board next month.
FAQ
Is Wilmington rezoning land to open space right now?
No. As of Port City Daily’s Oct. 28, 2026 report, the open space district idea is on hold and no draft has gone to the Planning Commission. The city said to check back in a few weeks.
Could the city rezone my private property as open space?
According to the planning director, the city would not rezone private property into the district without the owner’s request, partly because of state limits on downzoning.
What’s happening with the Flossie Bryan tract?
New Hanover County owns the roughly 60-acre tract on Independence Boulevard, and the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is raising funds to buy it as a public nature preserve, with a contract that runs until December 2027.
How do I find out what’s zoned around a home I’m considering?
Start with the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County online GIS maps, and ask your agent to help you dig into nearby parcels, flood zones, and any pending planning cases.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Wilmington?
Zoning, flood zones, and what’s planned next door all shape a home’s value and how it feels to live there. Our team keeps up with these local decisions so you don’t have to. If you’re weighing a move in Wilmington or anywhere in New Hanover, Brunswick, or Pender counties, reach out to Aspyre Collective and we’ll help you see the full picture before you make a decision.
